Tie-plate.



N0. 7l2,l29. Patented Oct. 28,1902. I

' Y W. GDLDIE.

T I E P L A TE. 1

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.Y

WVILLIAM GOLDIE, OF W ILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIE-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,129, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed February 6, 1902. Serial No. 92,870. (No model.)

I To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1-, WILLIAM GOLDIE, a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have'invented a new and useful Improvement in Tie- Plates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof.

My invention relates to tie-plates; and its object is to provide a tie-plate which has a firm support and adhesion to the tie at the central portion of the plate andwhich will not split the tie.

Tie-plates have been made with longitudinal ribs or projections at or near their edges, which embed themselves in the wood of the tie and hold the plate in position. These ribs or projections are not generally of great length, so that their hold on the wood is not very strong. Under the impact and vibration of the trains the plates soon wear loose, and as the support is entirely at theedges of the plate they rock, and thus wear down into the tie, also drawing by suction water under the plate, and thus quickly causing the rotting of the tie. It has also been proposed to form tie-plates with a deep rib at the central 7 portion of the plate to give a firm support at the center of the plate, just where the support is needed, and which also will take a firm grip on the tie and prevent the plate from rising or rocking, and thus wear the tie. The objection to this deep central rib, however, is that it is of such depth and thickness that it will split the wood of the tie, and es-' pecially when the latter is frozen, so that its adhesion to the tieis entirely destroyed and it cannot resist the tendency of the rails to spread, as well as permitting water to soak into the tie and rot the same,

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the above defects and to provide a tie-plate having a firm support and grip for the plate at the central portion thereof and which nevertheless is so constructedthat it will not split the tie.

To this endit comprises, generally stated, a tie-plate having a deep central rib which will embed itself in the tie and take a firm hold therein and also having on its under surface on each side-of said deep central rib a rib of less depth, which will prevent the The plate has a body 1 of the usual or any preferred length, width, and thickness and is provided nearits ends with the spike-holes 2, one such hole being shown at each end of the plate, although a greater'number may be employed, the said holes being arranged diagonally, as shown. This plate is provided along its longitudinal center on its lower surface with the deep rib 4, which will be of such depth that it will take a firm hold in the wood of the tie and form a support for the central portion of the plate. This rib is shown extending unbroken from end to end of the plate; but this is not necessary, and it is drawn to a point or edge, as shown, so as to be more easily driven into the tie. 7 On each side of this deep central rib is a rib 6 of less depth, which also is drawn to a point or edge and preferably extends the entire length of the plate. These ribs 6 are shown located at the edges of the plate; but this is not essential, as they may be located inside of the edges. the depth of the central rib 4, that they will begin to enter the tie when the rib 4 has been driven in to such 'an extent that there will be a tendency for the wood to begin to split. These ribs 6 then entering the tie prevent the wood from spreading sidewise, and thus entirely overcome the tendencyto split. Preferably these ribs 6 have their inclinations entirely on the inside that is, facing the central rib 4-thus tending to crowd the wood over toward said central rib. As a consequence the latter will be embedded in the wood of the tie without splitting the same, and the wood between the ribs tand 6 is very much compacted, made denser and firmer, thus not only more firmly gripping the rib 4 and forming a more compact support for the plate, but also by reason of its compactness preventing water from soaking into the tie. Not only will the life of the tie be greatly ICO increased, but the plate has a firm support at its central portion and such adhesion to the tie that it cannot rise or rock with the vibration of the rail and wear down into the tie nor yield to the spreading tendency of the rails. Furthermore, in driving the plate into the tie the deep central rib will get a good grasp in the wood before the other ribs enter the tie and aid in drawing the plate to place. It is thus much easier to drive my plate into the tie than it is to drive down a plate having several ribs all of the same depth.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tie-plate having on its under surface a deep central rib and having on each side thereof a rib of less depth, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A tie-plate having on its under surface a deep wedge-shaped rib, and having on each side thereof a rib of less depth which likewise is wedge-shaped with the inclination mostly on the inner side thereof, as and'for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM GOLDIE, have hereunto set my hand.

W'ILLIAM GOLDIE. Witnesses:

ROBERT (J. TOTTEN, F. W. WINTER. 

